Smith’s dictionary

The classic Victorian Bible dictionary: 4,600 short entries, especially strong on names and places.

• Cab[MEASURES]
• Cabbona town in the low country of Judah. (Joshua 15:40)
• CabulOne of the landmarks on the boundary of Asher, (Joshua 19:27) now Kabul , 9 or 10...
• Caesaralways in the New Testament the Roman emperor, the sovereign of Judea. (John 19:12,15;...
• Caesarea(Acts 8:40; 9:30; 10:1,24; 11:11; 12:19; 18:22; 21:8,16; 23:23,33; 25:1,4,6,13) was...
• Caesarea Philippiis mentioned only in the first two Gospels, (Matthew 16:13; Mark 8:27) and in accounts...
• CageThe term so rendered in (Jeremiah 5:27) is more properly a trap in which decoy birds...
• Caiaphas, or Caiaphas(depression), in full JOSEPH CAIAPHAS, high priest of the Jews under Tiberius....
• Cainone of the cities in the low country of Judah, named with Zanoah and Gibeah. (Joshua 15:57)
• Cain(possession). Gen. 4. He was the eldest son of Adam and Eve; he followed the business...
• Cainan(possessor) Son of Enos, aged 70 years when he begat Mahalaleel his son. He lived 840...
• Calah(completion, old age), one of the most ancient cities of Assyria. (Genesis 10:11) The...
• Calamus[REED]
• Calcol(sustenance), a man of Judah, son or descendant of Zerah. (1 Chronicles 2:6) Probably...
• Caldrona vessel for boiling flesh, for either ceremonial or domestic use. (1 Samuel 2:14; 2...
• Caleb(capable). According to (1 Chronicles 2:9,18,19,42,50) the son of Hezron the son of...
• CalfThe calf was held in high esteem by the Jews as food. (1 Samuel 28:24; Luke 15:23) The...
• Calvary[See GOLGATHA]
• CamelThe species of camel which was in common use among the Jews and the heathen nations of...
• Camon(full of grain), the place in which Jair the judge was buried. (Judges 10:5)
• Camp[ENCAMPMENT]
• CamphireThere can be no doubt that "camphire" is the Lawsonia alba of botanists, the henna of...
• Cana(place of reeds) of Galilee, once Cana in Galilee, a village or town not far from...
• Canaan(Ca’nan) (low, flat). The fourth son of Ham, (Genesis 10:6; 1 Chronicles 1:8) the...
• Canaan, the Land of(lit. lowland), a name denoting the country west of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, and...
• Canaanite, thethe designation of the apostle Simon, otherwise known as "Simon Zelotes." It occurs in...
• Canaanites, thea word used in two senses: A tribe which inhabited a particular locality of the land...
• Cananaean(Matthew 10:4) Used in the Revised Version in place of "Canaanite." [See CANAANITE, THE]
• Candace, or Candace(prince of servants), a queen of Ethiopia (Meroe), mentioned (Acts 8:27) (A.D. 38.)...
• Candlestickin (Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21) is merely a lamp-stand, made in various forms, to hold up...
• Candlestickwhich Moses was commanded to make for the tabernacle, is described (Exodus 25:31-37;...
• Cane[REED]
• Cankerworm[LOCUST]
• Canneh(Ezekiel 27:23) [SEE CALNEH]
• Canon of Scripture, themay be generally described as the "collection of books which form the original and...
• CanopyJudith 10:21; 13:9; 16:19. The canopy of Holofernes is the only one mentioned.
• Canticles(Song of Songs), entitled in the Authorized Version THE SONG OF SOLOMON. It was...
• Capernaum(village of Nahum) was on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. (Matthew 4:13)...
• Capharone of the numerous words employed in the Bible to denote a village or collection of...
• Caphtor, Caphtorim(a crown), thrice mentioned as the primitive seat of the Philistines, (2:23; Jeremiah...
• Cappadocia, Cappadocians(province of good horses), (Acts 2:3; 1 Peter 1:1) the largest province in ancient...
• CaptainAs a purely military title, "captain" answers to sar in the Hebrew army and tribune in...
• CaptiveA prisoner of war. Such were usually treated with great cruelty by the heathen...
• Captivities of the JewsThe present article is confined to the forcible deportation of the Jew; from their...
• CarbuncleThis word represents two Hebrew words. The first may he a general term to denote any...
• Carcas(severe), the seventh of the seven "chamberlains," i.e. eunuchs, of King Ahasuerus....
• Carchemish(fortress of Chemosh) occupied nearly the site of the later Mabug or Hierapolis. It...
• Careah(bald head), father of Johanan, (2 Kings 25:23) elsewhere spelt KAREAH.
• Cariathe southern part of the region which int he New Testament is called ASIA, and the...
• Carmel(fruitful place or park). A mountain which forms one of the most striking and...
• Carmi(vine dresser). The fourth son of Reuben, the progenitor of the family of the...
• Carpenter[HANDICRAFT]
• Carpusa Christian at Troas. (2 Timothy 4:13)
• CarriageThis word signifies what we now call "baggage." In the margin of (1 Samuel 17:20) and...
• Carshena(illustrious), one of the seven princes of Persia and Media. (Esther 1:14)
• Cart(Genesis 45:19,27; Numbers 7:3,7,8) a vehicle drawn by cattle, (2 Samuel 6:6) to be...
• CarvingThe arts of carving and engraving were much in request in the construction of both the...
• Casiphia(silvery, white), a place of uncertain site on the road between Babylon and Jerusalem....
• Casluhim(fortified), a Mizraite people or tribe. (Genesis 10:14; 1 Chronicles 1:12)
• Cassia(Exodus 30;24; Ezekiel 27:19) The cassia bark of commerce is yielded by various kinds...
• Castle[FENCED CITIES CITIES]
• Castor and Pollux(Acts 28:11) the twin sons of Jupiter and Leda, were regarded as the tutelary...
• CaterpillarThe representative in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew word chasil and yelek ....
• Cattle[BULL, BULLOCK].
• Cauda(Acts 27:16) The form given in the Revised Version to Clauda , an island south of...
• Caula sort of ornamental head-dress, (Isaiah 3:18) with a net for its base. The name is...
• CaveThe most remarkable caves noticed in Scripture are, that in which Lot dwelt after the...
• CedarThe Hebrew word erez , invariably rendered "cedar" by the Authorized Version, stands...
• Cedron(John 18:1) [SEE KIDRON, OR KEDRON]
• CeilingThe descriptions of Scripture, (1 Kings 6:9,15; 7:3; 2 Chronicles 3:5,9; Jeremiah...
• Celosyria[COELESYRIA]
• Cenchrea, or Cenchrea(accurately Cenchre’ae) (millet), the eastern harbor of Corinth (i.e. its harbor on...
• CenserA small portable vessel of metal fitted to receive burning coals from the altar, and...
• Census[TAXING]
• Centurion[ARMY]
• Cephas[PETER]
• Chaffthe husk of corn or wheat which was separated from the grain by being thrown into the...
• ChainChains were used, As badges of office; For ornament; For confining prisoners. the gold...
• Chalcedonyonly in (Revelation 21:19) The name is applied in modern mineralogy to one of the...
• Chalcol(1 Kings 4:31) [CALCOL]
• Chaldeamore correctly Chaldae’a, the ancient name of a country of Asia bordering on the...
• Chaldeans, or ChaldeesIt appears that the Chaldeans (Kaldai or Kaldi) were in the earliest times merely one...
• Chaldees, or Chaldees[CHALDEANS, OR CHALDEES]
• Chalk Stones[LIME]
• Chamber(Genesis 43:30; 2 Samuel 18:33; Psalms 19:5; Daniel 6:10) The word chamber in these...
• Chamberlainan officer attached to the court of a king, who formerly had charge of the private...
• Chameleona species of lizard. The reference in (Leviticus 11:30) is to some kind of an unclean...
• Chamois(pronounced often shame), the translation of the Hebrew zemer in (14:5) But the...
• Chanaan[CANAAN, CANAAN, THE LAND OF]
• Chapiterthe capital of a pillar; i.e. the upper part, as the term is used in modern architecture.
• Chapman(i.e. cheap man), merchant.
• Charashim, the Valley of(ravine of craftsmen), a place near Lydda, a few miles east of Joppa. (1 Chronicles 4:14)
• Charchemish(2 Chronicles 35:20) [CARCHEMISH]
• Chargera shallow vessel for receiving water or blood, also for presenting offerings of fine...
• Chariota vehicle used either for warlike or peaceful purposes, but most commonly the former....
• Charran(Acts 7:2,4) [HARAN]
• Chase[HUNTING]
• Cheani(a contraction of Chenaniah), one of the Levites who assisted at the solemn...
• Chebar(length), a river in the "land of the Chaldeans." (Ezekiel 1:3; 3:15,23) etc. It is...
• Chebel(cord), one of the singular topographical terms in which the ancient Hebrew language...
• Chedorlaomer, or Chedorlaomer(handful of sheaves), a king of Elam, in the time of Abraham, who with three other...
• Cheeseis mentioned only three times in the Bible, and on each occasion under a different...
• Chelal(perfection), (Ezra 10:30) one who had a strange wife.
• Chelluh(completed), (Ezra 10:35) another like the above.
• ChelubA man among the descendants of Judah. Ezri the son of Chelub, one of David’s officers....
• Chelubai(capable), the son of Hezron. Same as Caleb. (1 Chronicles 2:9,18,42)
• Chemarim, the(those who go about in black , i.e. ascetics). In the Hebrew applied to the priests of...
• Chemosh(subduer), the national deity of the Moabites. (Numbers 21:29; Jeremiah 48:7,13,46) In...
• Chenaanah(merchant). Son of Bilhan, son of Jediael, son of Benjamin, head of a Benjamite house,...
• Chenaniah(established by the Lord), chief of the Levites when David carried the ark to...
• Chepharhaammonai(hamlet of the Ammonites), a place mentioned among the town of Benjamin. (Joshua 18:24)
• Chephirah(the hamlet), one of the four cities of the Gibeonites, (Joshua 9:17) named afterwards...
• Cheran(lyre), one of the sons of Dishon the Horite "duke." (Genesis 36:26; 1 Chronicles 1:41)
• Cherethim(axe-men), (Ezekiel 25:16) same as CHERETHITES.
• Cherethites(executioners) and of King David. (2 Samuel 8:18; 15:18; 20:7,23; 1 Kings 1:38,44; 1...
• Cherith, the Brook(cutting, ravine), the torrent-bed or wady in which Elijah hid himself during the...
• Cherubapparently a place in Babylonia from which some persons of doubtful extraction...
• Cherub, CherubimThe symbolical figure so called was a composite creature-form which finds a parallel...
• Chesalon(hopes), a place named as one of the landmarks on the west part of the north boundary...
• Chesed(increase), fourth son of Nahor. (Genesis 22:22)
• Chesil(idolatrous), a town in the extreme south of Palestine, (Joshua 15:30) 15 Miles...
• ChestBy this word are translated in the Authorized Version two distinct Hebrew terms: Aron...
• Chestnut Tree(Heb. ’armon .) (Genesis 30:37; Ezekiel 31:8) Probably the "palm tree" (Platanus...
• Chesulloth(the loins), one of the towns of Issachar. (Joshua 19:18) From its position int he...
• Chezib(lying), a name which occurs but once, (Genesis 38:5) probably the same as ACHZIB.
• Chidon(a javelin), the name which in (1 Chronicles 13:9) is given to the threshing-floor at...
• ChildrenThe blessing of offspring, but especially of the male sex, is highly valued among all...
• Chileab(like his father), a son of David by Abigail. [ABIGAIL]
• Chillon(pining, sickly), the son of Naomi and husband of Ruth. (Ruth 1:2-5; 4:9) (B.C. 1250.)
• Chilmad(enclosure), a place or country mentioned in conjunction with Sheba and Asshur. (Ezekiel 27:23)
• Chimham(longing), a follower and probably a son, of Barzillai the Gileadite, who returned...
• Chimhan[CHIMHAM]
• Chinnereth(circuit), accurately Cinnareth, a fortified city in the tribe of Naphtali, (Joshua...
• Chinnereth, Sea of(Numbers 34:11; Joshua 13:27) the inland sea, which is most similarly known to us as...
• Chinneroth[CHINNERETH, CHINNERETH, SEA OF]
• Chios(snowy), an island of the Aegean Sea, 12 miles from Smyrna. It is separated from the...
• Chisleu[MONTH]
• Chislon(confidence), father of Elidad, the prince of the tribe of Benjamin chosen to assist...
• Chislothtabor(loins of Tabor) a place to the border of which reached the border of Zebulun. (Joshua...
• Chittim, Kittim(bruisers), a family or race descended from Javan. (Genesis 10:4; 1 Chronicles 1:7)...
• Chiun(a statue , perhaps of Saturn), an idol made by the Israelites in the wilderness. [REMPHAN]
• Chloe(green herb), a woman mentioned in (1 Corinthians 1:11)
• Chorashan(1 Samuel 30:30) It may perhaps, be identified with ASHAN of Simeon.
• Chorazinone of the cities in which our Lord’s mighty works were done, but named only in his...
• Chozeba(1 Chronicles 4:22) Perhaps the same as ACHZIB.
• Christ[Jesus]
• ChristianThe disciples, we are told, (Acts 11:26) were first called Christians at Antioch on...
• Chronicles, First and Second Books ofthe name originally given to the record made by the appointed historiographers in the...
• ChronologyBy this term we understand the technical and historical chronology of the Jews and...
• Chryopraseoccurs only in (Revelation 21:20) The true chrysoprase is sometimes found in antique...
• Chrysoliteone of the precious stones in the foundation of the heavenly Jerusalem. (Revelation...
• ChrysprasusLatin form of CHRYSOPRAS.
• Chubthe name of a people in alliance with Egypt in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, (Ezekiel...
• Chun(1 Chronicles 18:8) called Berothai in (2 Samuel 8:8)
• ChurchThe derivation of the word is generally said to be from the Greek kuriakon (kuriakon)...
• Chushanrishathaim(chief of two governments), the king of Mesopotamia who oppressed Israel during eight...
• Chuzaproperly Chu’zas (the seer), the house-steward of Herod Antipas. (Luke 8:3)
• Ciccar[JORDAN]
• Cilicia(the land of Celix), a maritime province int he southeast of Asia Minor, bordering on...
• Cinnamona well-known aromatic substance, the rind of the Laurus cinnamomum , called...
• Cinneroth(1 Kings 15:20) This was possibly the small enclosed district north of Tiberias, and...
• Circumcisionwas peculiarly, though not exclusively, a Jewish rite. It was enjoined upon Abraham,...
• Cisthe father of Saul, (Acts 13:21) usually called KISH.
• Cisterna receptacle for water, either conducted from an external spring or proceeding from...
• CitiesThe earliest notice in Scripture of city-building is of Enoch by Cain, in the land of...
• Cities of Refugesix Levitical cities specially chosen for refuge to the involuntary homicide until...
• Citims1 Macc. 8:5. [CHITTIM, KITTIM]
• CitizenshipThe use of this term in Scripture has exclusive reference to the usages of the Roman...
• Citron[APPLE TREE, APPLE TREE]
• Clauda(lame), (Acts 27:16) a small island nearly due west of Cape Matala on the south coast...
• Claudia(lame), a Christian woman mentioned in (2 Timothy 4:21) as saluting Timotheus.
• Claudius(lame), fourth Roman emperor, reigned from 41 to 54 A.D. He was nominated to the...
• Claudius Lysias[LYSIAS CLAUDIUS]
• ClayAs the sediment of water remaining in pits or in streets, the word is used frequently...
• Clement(mild, merciful), (Philemon 4:3) a fellow laborer of St. Paul when he was at Philippi....
• Cleopas(of a renowned father), one of the two disciples who were going to Emmaus on the day...
• CleophasRevised Version Clo’pas, the husband of Mary the sister of Virgin Mary. (John 19:25)...
• Clothing[DRESS]
• CloudThe shelter given, and refreshment of rain promised, by clouds give them their...
• Cloud, Pillar ofThe pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night that God caused to pass before the...
• Cloutedpatched. (Joshua 9:5)
• Cnidus(nidus), a city of great consequence, situated at the extreme south west of the...
• CoalThe first and most frequent use of the word rendered coal is a live ember, burning...
• Coastborder, with no more reference to lands bordering on the sea than to any other bordering lands.
• Coat[DRESS]
• Cock(Matthew 26:34; Mark 13:35; 14:30) etc. The domestic cock and hen were early known to...
• Cockatrice[ADDER]
• Cockleprobably signifies bad weeds or fruit. (Job 31:40)
• Coelesyria(hollow Syria), the remarkable valley or hollow which intervenes between Libanus and...
• Coffer(argaz), a movable box hanging from the side of a cart. (1 Samuel 6:8,11,15) The word...
• Coffin[BURIAL, SEPULCHRES]
• Colhozeh(all-seeing), a man of the tribe of Judah in the time of Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 3:15;...
• CollarFor the proper sense of this term, as it occurs in (Judges 8:26) see EARRINGS.
• College, theIn (2 Kings 22:14) it is probable that the word translated "college" represents here...
• Colonya designation of Philippi, in (Acts 16:12) After the battle of Actium, Augustus...
• ColorsThe terms relative to color, occurring in the Bible, may be arranged in two classes,...
• Colossemore properly Colos’sae, was a city of Phrygia in Asia Minor, in the upper part of the...
• Colossians, the Epistle to thewas written by the apostle St. Paul during his first captivity at Rome. (Acts 28:16)...
• Comforter(John 14:16) The name given by Christ to the Holy Spirit. The original word is...
• CommerceFrom the time that men began to live in cities, trade, in some shape, must have been...
• Conaniah(made by Jehovah), one of the chiefs of the Levites in the time of Josiah. (2...
• ConcubineThe difference between wife and concubine was less marked among the Hebrews than among...
• Conduitmeaning an aqueduct or trench through which water was carried. Tradition, both oral...
• Coney(shaphan), a gregarious animal of the class Pachydermata, which is found in Palestine,...
• CongregationThis describes the Hebrew people in its collective capacity under its peculiar aspect...
• Coniah[JECONIAH]
• Cononiah(appointed by the Lord), a Levite, ruler of the offerings and tithes in the time of...
• Consecration[PRIEST]
• ConvocationThis term (with one exception)-- (Isaiah 1:13) is applied invariably to meetings of a...
• CookingAs meet did not form an article of ordinary diet among the Jews, the art of cooking...
• Coos(Acts 21:1) [COS, OR COOS]
• CopperHeb. nechosheth , in the Authorized Version always rendered "brass," except in (Ezra...
• Coral(Ezekiel 27:16) A production of the sea, formed by minute animals called zoophytes. It...
• Corbanan offering to God of any sort, bloody or bloodless, but particularly in fulfillment...
• CordThe materials of which cord was made varied according to the strength required; the...
• Core(Jude 1:11) [KORAH, 1]
• CorianderThe plant called Coriandrum sativum is found in Egypt, Persia and India, and has a...
• Corinthan ancient and celebrated city of Greece, on the Isthmus of Corinth, and about 40...
• Corinthians, First Epistle to thewas written by the apostle St. Paul toward the close of his nearly three-years stay at...
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to thewas written a few months subsequent to the first, in the same year --about the autumn...
• Cormorantthe representative in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew words kaath and shalac . As...
• CornThe most common kinds were wheat, barley, spelt, Authorized Version, (Exodus 9:32) and...
• Cornelius(of a horn), a Roman centurion of the Italian cohort stationed in Caesarea, (Acts...
• CornerThe "corner" of the field was not allowed, (Leviticus 19:9) to be wholly reaped. It...
• Cornerstonea quoin or cornerstone, of great importance in binding together the sides of a...
• Cornet(Heb. shophar), a loud-sounding instrument, made of the horn of a ram or a chamois...
• Cos, or Coos(now Stanchio or Stanko). This small island of the Grecian Archipelago has several...
• Cosam(a diviner), son of Elmodam, in the line of Joseph the husband of Mary. (Luke 3:28)
• CottonCotton is now both grown and manufactured in various parts of Syria and Palestine; but...
• Couch[BED]
• CouncilThe great council of the Sanhedrin, which sat at Jerusalem. [SANHEDRIN] The lesser...
• Court(Heb. chatser), an open enclosure surrounded by buildings, applied in the Authorized...
• CovenantThe Heb. berith means primarily "a cutting," with reference to the custom of cutting...
• Cow[BULL, BULLOCK]
• Coz(thorn), a man among the descendants of Judah. (1 Chronicles 4:8)
• Cozbi(deceitful), daughter of Zur, a chief of the Midianites. (Numbers 25:15,18)
• CraneThe crane (Grus cinerea) is a native of Europe and Asia. It stand about four feet...
• CreateTo create is to cause something to exist which did not exist before, as distinguished...
• Creation(The creation of all things is ascribed in the Bible to God, and is the only...
• Creditor[LOAN]
• Crescens(growing), (2 Timothy 4:10) an assistant of St. Paul, said to have been one of the...
• Cretethe modern Candia. This large island, which closes int he Greek Archipelago on the...
• Cretes(Acts 2:11) Cretans, inhabitants of Crete.
• Crisping Pins(Isaiah 3:22) The original word means some kind of female ornament, probably a...
• Crispus(curled), ruler of the Jewish synagogue at Corinth, (Acts 18:8) baptized with his...
• CrossAs the emblem of a slave’s death and a murderer’s punishment, the cross was naturally...
• CrownThis ornament, which is both ancient and universal, probably originated from the...
• Crown of Thorns(Matthew 27:29) Our Lord was crowned with thorns in mockery by the Roman soldiers....
• Crucifixionwas in used among the Egyptians, (Genesis 40:19) the Carthaginians, the Persians,...
• Crusea small vessel for holding water, such as was carried by Saul when on his night...
• Crystalthe representative in the Authorized Version of two Hebrew words. Zecucith occurs only...
• Cubit[WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND MEASURES]
• Cuckoo(Leviticus 11:16; 14:15) the name of some of the larger petrels which abound in the...
• Cucumbers(Heb. kishshuim). This word occurs in (Numbers 11:5) as one of the good things of...
• Cumminone of the cultivated plants of Palestine. (Isaiah 28:25,27; Matthew 23:23) It is an...
• CupThe cups of the Jews, whether of metal or earthenware, were possibly borrowed, in...
• Cupbeareran officer of high rank with Egyptian, Persian and Assyrian as well as Jewish...
• Cushthe name of a son of Ham, apparently the eldest, and of a territory or territories...
• Cush(black), a Benjamite mentioned only in the title to (Psalms 7:1) He was probably a...
• Cushan(blackness), (Habakkuk 3:7) possibly the same as Cushan-rishathaim (Authorized Version...
• CushiProperly "the Cushite," "the Ethiopian," a man apparently attached to Joab’s person....
• Cuth, or Cuthahone of the countries whence Shalmaneser introduced colonists into Samaria. (2 Kings...
• Cuttings [in the Flesh]Cuttings in the flesh, or the laceration of one’s body for the "propitiation of their...
• Cymbal, Cymbalsa pecussive musical instrument. Two kinds of cymbals are mentioned in (Psalms 150:5)...
• Cypress(Heb. tirzah). The Hebrew word is found only in (Isaiah 44:14) We are quite unable to...
• Cyprusan island of Asia in the Mediterranean. It is about 140 miles long and 50 miles wide...
• Cyrenethe principal city of that part of northern Africa which was sufficiently called...
• Cyrenius(warrior), the Greek form of the Roman name of Quirinus. The full name is Publius...
• Cyrus(the sun), the founder of the Persian empire --see (2 Chronicles 36:22,23; Daniel...